Music

Moana Maniapoto: 'it kind of feels like whanau'

19:20 pm on 29 September 2016

NZ Music Hall of Fame inductee Moana Maniapoto joins Alex Behan at the 2016 APRA Silver Scroll Awards.

Moana Maniapoto Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farelly

Moana Maniapoto talks to Alex Behan

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Moana Maniapoto has known for a week about the honour.

“I’ve been hugely nervous. I don’t think I slept last night. I’m really honoured to accept on behalf of a whole bunch of people.

“I was so nervous coming here and I didn’t sleep. And I walk in here and it kind of feels like whanau.”

On the diversity of Māori music she say: There’s something that fits every format.”

Hopes to use music and karakea to help teach Māori language.

On kapa haka:

“I’m actually really useless. I never made the front row. I think I just wanted to be the front row, really.

“I’m probably as insecure as the next person, which is one of the reasons why I was reluctant to accept this.”

In response to bad reviews:

“In the end I think, stuff you, who cares what you think? It’s not about you, and it’s bigger than me… I’m doing it to satisfy myself and whoever responds to my music.”